Coveted Truth

Chapter 1

Annika sighed as she stared up into the sky. The stars were free, why did she have to have a constrained life? She found herself raising one tan hand, covering in the translucent markings of her heritage, and using a clawed finger to outline one of the moons setting in the night sky.

A space cruiser speared her view and a scowl spread across her previously soft features. She thought for a moment that she could forget the Soicraltees. They had surrounded her planet and had blacked all exports and imports until her father agreed to marry her to the heir. Due to the annoying fact that even though her father had passed his crown on to her from being to weary after four millennia of ruling, it was still his decision on her marriage. Not that it bothered her as she didn't want the marriage either. The cruiser continued on its way.

She pulled herself up from the ground and scanned the area, her bright blue eyes burned red as she tried to pick up any heat signatures. The heir of the Soicraltees had developed a nasty habit of showing up and trying to get her to give in to his proposal. Seeing nothing, she bent down and picked up her gun, switching the safety on before holstering it. The light from the moons made her silver hair glow as she began her trip back to the castle. Both the inner and outer city rings were quiet; no one dared to stay outside with the space cruisers constantly on watch. She was one of the few who wandered freely, and she dared one of the cruisers to mess with her. Another cruiser passed over head and she paused to glare at it. It was the Soicraltees' fault that her people were suffering.

When they had first arrived for her coronation, many of her people were astonished at just the mere sight of them, as the sister planets had long been separated. They were almost half a person taller, built to be sleek and fast while still having the advantage in strength and size. Annika was of average height for a Dalian female, something she found comparable to the human species she had discovered last year. She had been on her last expedition before accepting the crown when her cruiser had been pulled into the Milky Way, a surprisingly barren galaxy. There was only one planet there still capable of holding life, and the dominant species were comparable to the Dalian's and Soicraltees' in looks, minus the height of the Soicraltees'. She had been impressed by the variance of wildlife and had almost taken a few of the more exotic species.

A cruiser stopped overhead and the low hum of the engine startled her. A search light singled in on where she had previously been standing then turned off when they realized no one was there. Annika sat snarling on the rooftop, her eyes catching the flash of black shoot from the cruiser to the streets. The heir was probably looking for her. She had disabled three of their cruisers surrounding the military base. That was the entire reason they couldn't fight the invasion! Their weaponry was locked up tight. She stiffened when she saw the black flash on the roof across the way. A bit of panic surged through her and she took off sprinting, blowing past the outer and inner city rings, trying all the while to unlatch her holster. The black flash was quickly on her heels.

She jumped into the overlaying branches when they reached the ring of forest surrounding the castle, hoping to lose him. She growled when she found herself pinned to a tree, hanging a good two feet off the ground, pinned between the bark and a muscular chest, staring into the eyes of the Soicraltees' heir.

"Dakota," Annika hissed, struggling to get loose.

"Marry me Annika," he purred. She went to swing at him, but he caught her wrist and pinned both hand above her head. He moved in to kiss her, but she turned her head and tucked behind her arm.

"No."

His eyes saddened and he laid his forehead against her exposed collarbone. A low whine left his throat as he closed his eyes.

"Why do you want me?"

Pools of amber were instantly looking at her. He shook his head and refused to speak. Annika's eyes darkened in anger.

"If you won't tell me why you want me, then why would I even consider your proposal?" Annika snapped. Dakota sighed in apparent aggravation. He ran his free hand through his hair and looked skyward.

"What do you know about Soicraltees' anatomy?" Dakota questioned. Annika snorted and let a laugh echo through the trees.

"I'm a Dalian! Why would I need to know your anatomy?"

Dakota leveled her with a glare, the first harsh gesture she'd received since he started pursuing her. She actually flinched at how harsh it was.

"Quite a lot since we have the ability to find our Soul Mate," he growled, "And when I came to your coronation months ago, the minute I laid eyes on you, I knew we were meant to be together. You are my perfect match in every way," he ended in a whisper, leaning closer as if he were about to kiss her. His lips were only a breath away...

"There's the Queen!" Yelled a rough voice. Dakota was tackled to the ground and Annika crumpled to the ground without him supporting her. She was quickly hoisted over the shoulder of one of her guard and watched as she was carried off to the castle, watched as Dakota stood up and looked at her longingly before she disappeared from sight.